New season of ‘Working Wild University’ explores grizzly bear recovery in the West

BOZEMAN - Grizzly bears are returning to parts of the American West where they have not lived for generations. A new season of "Working Wild University," a podcast co-hosted by Montana State University Extension wildlife specialist Jared Beaver, examines what recovery means for the bears - and for the people sharing the landscape with them.

The first episode, Grizzly bears are back-now what?, traces grizzlies' history in North America, their near-disappearance and their recovery under the Endangered Species Act. It also introduces questions at the heart of the season: Where do grizzly bears belong, and who gets to decide?

On July 14, the U.S. Department of the Interior released a revised proposed rule that would give states and tribes additional flexibility to manage conflicts while maintaining the grizzly bear's threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. Supporters have described the proposal as a return to state management and a milestone for recovery, while others have raised questions about oversight and the long-term implications for bear populations.

"Grizzly recovery is a remarkable achievement, but recovery is not the end of the story," Beaver said. "As bears expand into working lands and rural communities, conservation becomes a question of how people respond, adapt and make decisions together. We want listeners to understand the science, history and lived experiences that will shape what comes next."

Beaver's podcast co-host is Western Landowners Alliance's Hallie Mahowald. The season travels from Wyoming ranches to Montana communities; guests include ranchers, tribal leaders, historians, wildlife managers, scientists and conservationists with firsthand experience of grizzly recovery and human-bear conflict.

"This season is about listening closely to the people behind the headlines," said Zach Altman, the show's producer and communications manager at Western Landowners Alliance. "Grizzly bears inspire awe, fear, pride and frustration, sometimes within the same community. Our goal is to give listeners enough context to understand those tensions and recognize where practical common ground already exists."

Listen to the season trailer and find Working Wild University on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major podcast platforms.

"Working Wild University" is a documentary podcast exploring the places where wildlife and working lands meet. It is part of the Natural Resources University podcast network, which focuses on delivering science-based information for natural resource management. Follow the show on Instagram @WorkingWildU.